The show, “A Bright New Boise,” will be performed in coming weekends at both the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center and the Hartung Theater.
The play was written by Samuel Hunter, a local playwright.
Danlin Li | Rawr
The show is being performed dually by the UI Theater Department and the Moscow Art Theatre (Too) company.
“A Bright New Boise” is about the relationship between a father and son and the difficulties they face while trying to reconnect their relationship. It is learned that the father, Will, a man from northern Idaho, gave his son, Alex, up for adoption at a young age.
Will finds out his now 20-year-old son lives in Boise and works for Hobby Lobby, a local arts and crafts store. But, as he tries to reconnect with Alex, he finds there are many things that have changed in both their lives.
Jonathan Rau, a nephew of John Travolta, plays Alex’s adopted brother, Leroy, in the show. Leroy also works at Hobby Lobby and is extremely protective of Alex. Rau said Leroy is very artistic in an edgy way that pushes boundaries and comfort zones.
Dave Harlan, artistic director of the MATT company, is the director of “A Bright New Boise.” He said the show is among the top stories he’s been able to tell on stage.
“Every rehearsal, I find something new,” Harlan said. “It’s layered so well with so many pieces he’s put together. It’s a picture so compelling and moving and funny and utterly compelling to watch.”
He said the UI theater department and MATT wanted to collaborate to do a show together this year. He said they both had interest in doing this play, and felt there would be much community interest because of it’s setting in northern Idaho and Boise, as well as being written by a formal community member.
“Sam is an amazing playwright,” Rau said. “Its the best play I’ve read in a long time. It’s remarkable –So doing a play from Moscow in Moscow. It’s going to be really cool for the community to see.”
As with many professional companies, there are multiple venues for the show. The show will be at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre the first weekend and move to the Hartung Theater on campus the next two weekends.
“In terms of education for artists who are learning the craft,” Harlan said, “the idea of taking a show and doing it in multiple places is something they may do in the future.”
Hunter has received many awards during his short career as a playwright. He was recently awarded the MacArthur Genius Grant and received a stipend of $625,000 on Sept. 17.
Hunter has also won the Obie award for playwriting and was a nominee for the Drama Desk Award for outstanding play in 2011.
“Its a huge honor for someone from this community,” Harlan said. “He’s the first Moscow person to win this and he earned it because of his work like ‘A Bright New Boise.'”
Kenworthy Performing Arts Center
Oct. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4-5 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15
Hartung Theater
Oct. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11, 12, 19 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are free for UI students
Alexia Neal can be reached at [email protected]